Having coached players like Kyrie Irving, Ben Simmons and D’Angelo Russell, all of whom are in the NBA, Montverde Academy basketball coach Kevin Boyle knows a thing or two about polishing talent.
But Boyle will be the first to tell you that he doesn’t take such opportunities for granted, and he’s quite thankful now to be coaching the nation’s No. 1-ranked sophomore.
Boyle’s latest star player, sophomore shooting guard/small forward R.J. Barrett, is the country’s top prospect for the Class of 2019, according to ESPN Recruiting.
“It’s a good accolade to have, but I know I have to keep working if I want to continue to keep that ranking,” Barrett said.
A smooth player with deceptive quickness and all-around ability, Barrett has led Montverde to a 16-2 record and a No. 6 national ranking by USA Today heading into the backstretch of the 2016-17 season. The Eagles host their its eight-team Montverde Academy Invitational Tournament this weekend.
Barrett’s big-time skills will be on display this weekend as his team hosts the Montverde Academy Invitational Tournament. Eight teams from five states, including local entries Winter Park and Windermere Prep, will compete for the title.
“It’s an honor to coach a kid like (Barrett),” Boyle said. “I love to push him. It’s easier for him to relate to me because of who I have coached.”
Barrett, who is 6-foot-7, 185 pounds, probably reminds some of Russell (6-5, 195), who went on to play for Ohio State and then was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers. But Montverde coaches say Barrett is a different player.
“D’Angelo could make the jump shot,” veteran Eagles assistant coach Rae Miller said. “R.J., he tries to get to the basket. And, he’s added more jump shots. His bread-and-butter is his ability to get into the lane, draw the foul and score.”
Barrett’s style is so effective that he averages nearly a double-double (22.5 points and 7.0 rebounds per game) and dishes out three assists per game in a program that traditionally spreads playing time and shots around. He had one of his best games in the ARS Rescue Rooter National Hoopfest in Tampa Bay, where he had 32 points and nine rebounds in a 94-59 victory against Tampa Catholic.
A week earlier, Barrett had 32 points and 13 rebounds in a 73-67 victory against Bishop Montgomery of Torrance, Calif., in the Spalding Hoopball Classic in Springfield, Mass.
“To fill up the stats in multiple ways, that’s going to be very important for guys to do,” Boyle said. “He’s not going to be one-dimensional. He can do a lot of different things.”
Even with such versatility, Barrett knows his strengths: “Playmaking and driving and, of course, scoring the ball.”
Barrett is the latest player to come to Montverde from another country. He came to the private school from Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, because he wanted to take his game to another level, but it took him a bit to get acclimated to the highly competitive nature of MVA basketball.
The Eagles won three consecutive national titles from 2013-15.
“It was a rough transition at first, but I’m adjusting to it,” Barrett said. “I had to fight for my position. I wanted to get better at basketball and I knew this was the best place for me.”
Barrett’s already has received scholarship offers from Baylor, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Oregon, UCLA and USC and has drawn interest from many others, with a full two years to go.
“I would like to say I’m a definite D-1 player,” Barrett said, and he’s stating the obvious according to recruiting analysts.
As for now, Barrett is excited about how the team is playing as of late. Montverde’s only two losses have come to Memphis East, ranked No. 4 nationally.
“We’re playing pretty well this season,” he said. “We’ve had a couple losses, but we’re bouncing.
This weekend is going to be really exciting to play in front of our crowd and our fans.”
